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Sharpa

Category: Robotics / Embodied AI

A robotics AI company developing general-purpose humanoid robots and advanced fine-manipulation systems designed to replicate human-level dexterity for complex manual tasks. Sharpa was founded in 2024. The company is led by Shaoqing Xiang. Based in Singapore, Singapore. Team size: 100-200. Total funding raised: $100.0M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include ["Shaoqing Xiang","David Li","Kai Sun","HongShan (Sequoia China)","Meituan"].

Founded
2024
Headquarters
Singapore, Singapore
Team size
100-200
Total funding
$100.0M

Value proposition

Bridging the gap between robotic mobility and human-level dexterity, allowing for the automation of high-precision tasks that were previously impossible for traditional industrial robots.

Products and solutions

["Sharpa North (General-purpose humanoid robot)","Sharpa Wave (High-dexterity robotic hand)","Autonomous Fine-Manipulation Robot (Specialized precision unit)","Sharpa Fine-Manipulation AI Model (Proprietary motor-control software)"]

Unique value

Led by the founders of Hesai Technology, the company pivots from 'machine vision' (LiDAR) to 'machine action,' focusing specifically on the 'last mile' of robotics: fine motor skills and tactile intelligence.

Target customer

Industrial manufacturing facilities, logistics and warehousing providers, healthcare institutions, and service-sector enterprises requiring delicate manual labor automation.

Industries served

["Advanced Manufacturing","Logistics & Supply Chain","Healthcare & Laboratory Automation","Service Robotics"]

Technology advantage

Leverages deep expertise in high-precision hardware and optical sensing to integrate advanced tactile feedback with LLM-based robotics profiling, enabling robots to handle fragile or complex objects autonomously.

How they differentiate

Focuses on the 'last mile' of robotics through tactile intelligence and fine-motor control. Unlike competitors focusing on bipedal locomotion, Sharpa prioritizes human-level dexterity using proprietary fine-manipulation AI models and high-precision sensing hardware derived from the founders' LiDAR expertise.

Main competitors

["Figure AI","Sanctuary AI","1X Technologies","Tesla (Optimus)"]

Key partnerships

["Hesai Technology (Strategic technical alignment)","Global electronics manufacturers (Pilot testing partners)","Research institutions specializing in Precision Engineering","A*STAR (Research collaboration on embodied AI for container handling operations)","JTC (Deployment of North robots in Punggol Digital District, including Innovation Lab)","Grab (Robotics in F&B operations and logistics at Punggol Digital District)"]

Notable customers

["Global Electronics Manufacturers (Pilot Partners)","Logistics Providers"]

Major milestones

["Company founded in early 2024 by Hesai Technology leadership","Exited stealth mode with a major Series A funding round in mid-2024","Successful development of 'Sharpa North' humanoid and 'Sharpa Wave' dexterous hand in 2025","Public showcase of autonomous fine-manipulation robot and new AI model at CES 2026","Strategic partnerships with A*STAR, JTC, and Grab at AI Robotics Summit in Singapore, scaling global HQ (May 2026)"]

Growth metrics

Rapidly scaled to 100-200 employees within the first 18 months; valuation reportedly reached unicorn status shortly after Series A.

Market positioning

High-end robotics AI pioneer targeting complex manual labor automation in precision-heavy industries.

Geographic focus

Global (Headquartered in Singapore with manufacturing R&D in Shanghai, China and business operations in Mountain View, USA)

Patents and IP

Proprietary IP in tactile sensing algorithms and dexterous hand mechanical design (specific filings not publicly disclosed).

About Shaoqing Xiang

Shaoqing Xiang is the Co-founder and CEO of Sharpa. He is best known as the Co-founder and CTO of Hesai Technology (NASDAQ: HSAI), a global leader in LiDAR sensors for autonomous driving. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University, where he graduated top of his class in the Department of Precision Instruments. His expertise lies in the intersection of high-precision hardware, optical sensing, and autonomous systems.

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